EDF Energy expects £500 million pound-plus boost to South West economy during construction of Hinkley Point C
7 July 2010Politicians and business leaders welcome big jobs boost as 500 local companies sign up to find out about opportunities at plant
EDF Energy today revealed the extent of the economic benefits that its project at Hinkley Point C will bring to the South West region.
In addition to injecting hundreds of millions of pounds into the local economy through workers' salaries during construction and operation, the project will create major business opportunities for South West companies.
The project will employ up to 5,000 people on site during construction and will create 900 permanent jobs during the 60-year operation of the plant.
A report by the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development estimates that, the project could pump on average £100 million per year into the local economy during construction and £40 million per year during operation. This would come mainly from salaries spent in the area by workers and from local contracts let for the project.
In addition, EDF Energy today committed to help prepare local people for the new jobs by developing a construction skills centre in Sedgemoor and an apprenticeship skills hub in West Somerset
These details are being published in the same week that EDF Energy is holding its regional Supplier Day in Bridgwater where local businesses can find out more about the billions of pounds of contracts relating to the project.
With over 500 companies having already registered for places, the organisers have decided to hold a second event later to accommodate the overwhelming demand.
The Supplier Day on 6 July at Bridgwater will now concentrate on the construction opportunities, and a second Somerset Supplier Day in autumn will be for companies providing other services.
Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, EDF Energy's Managing Director of Nuclear New Build said:
"I am delighted that our plans for twin reactors at Hinkley Point C will create major economic benefits for Somerset and the South West. It will inject hundreds of millions of pounds into the community and create new opportunities for hundreds of regional businesses.
"These are difficult economic times for businesses in the South West as everywhere and I am delighted that we will be outlining the opportunities to local companies this week. There are major opportunities not just for local companies such as builders, plumbers and electricians, but also for support services such as caterers, hoteliers, car hire firms and trainers.
"We are also committing to help local people make the most of the job opportunities our project will create, and to do this we will develop a construction apprenticeship learning hub in West Somerset, and a construction skills training centre in Sedgemoor."
In its report for EDF Energy the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development found: "The development is likely to contribute to longer term economic stability in the area. Overall this should lead to economic diversification away from declining sectors, offering high quality employment and opportunities for local businesses."
The news of the major jobs and economic boost was welcomed by local politicians and business leaders:
Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said:
"This project represents the biggest civil engineering project the South West has seen since Hinkley B, creating hundred of jobs and millions of pounds of opportunities for the local economy. We must maximise the business, education and training opportunities it represents for West Somerset and Sedgemoor in these difficult economic times. The new jobs and increased business activity will flow through into economic benefits for the entire community."
Rupert Cox, CEO of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce said:
"This project is going to provide a fantastic economic boost to South West businesses and to the community as a whole. It will generate unprecedented opportunities for all kinds of businesses in Somerset which we need to grasp with both hands.
This major injection into the local economy is particularly welcome in these difficult economic times when new business opportunities are harder to find. The Chamber of Commerce will work with its members and with EDF Energy to ensure local businesses make the most of the opportunities."
Roger Smith, Bridgwater's Angel Place shopping centre manager, said:
"It's great to see that Bridgwater is hosting such an important event for Somerset companies. People would be surprised by just how many different businesses stand to benefit from a construction project like Hinkley Point. I expect to see a great boost to trade in the town and many shops, local traders, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants are looking forward to some good economic news for a change."
South West companies already involved in the project set out how the Hinkley Point C was already a key customer for their business.
Steve Mackereth, managing director of Bristol-based Structural Soils, said:
"We've been working with EDF Energy on this major project since 2008 and it is a very valuable and interesting contract for our company. There are not many opportunities of this scale that come along in the south west and it's great that local companies have the chance to get involved and boost the regional economy."
Liene Penny, project manager for Somerset Racial Equality Council, said:
"EDF Energy have engaged us to provide translation services so that members of the community for whom English is not their first language can still participate in the public consultation. It is great to see a company positively interested in involving all sectors of the community and employing a local agency to help achieve this."
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